Sound-reproducing machine.



No. 873,937. PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

L. T. HAILB. SOUND REPRODUGING MACHINE.

A PPLIOATION FILED MAY 27, 1907.

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' rum/Ton I Mil/ AZM 277462444 "/MW;

PATENTED DEC. 17; 1907 L. T. HAILE. SOUND REPRODUCING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION rum) Mum, 1907.

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era/Mu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER T. HAILE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF NINE ONE-HUN- DREDTHS TO JOSEPH W. SHANNON, ONE-TENTH TO FREDERICK .I. GEIGER, AND ONE- TENTH TO LOGAN W. MULFORD, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUND-REPRODUCIVNG MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May'27. 1907- Serial No. 375.766.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LUTHER T. HA LE, a citizen of the United States, residing 1n the vcityof Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania,

. thereof, and has for its object to so amplify and modify the sound waves so produced as to restore, in large part if not wholly, their original tone and timbre, closely simulating the original sounds recorded; and, as incidental advantages the elimination of the amplifying and dlscharging horn and its ad unctive parts, commonly em loyed with talking machines, and the meta ic resonance resulting therefrom.

To these ends my invention consists of a new instrument comprising the combination, in or on a containing cabinet, with an interiorly-disposed sound-reproducing machine,

' of any known type in which sound-waves are pivota ly supported end of said arm being 1 mounted in an apertured wall of said resosage through the resonance-chamber and sounding-board. Also in the provision of nance-chamber in such manner as to discharge the sound-waves thereinto. Also in deflecting partition walls in the resonancechamber, operating primarily as an amplifyingconduit for thesound-waves ,on their pasduring their impingement against the inner face of the sounding-board,.and secondarily to modify their tone by contact of such par-3 tition walls with the resonant fibers of the resonance-chamber, as also valve mechanism governing its discharge ports, whereby the tone production may be, re ulated, namely, producing either loud or so t tones, with diminuendo or crescendo, at the will of the operator andwhile the machine is in operation. Also in other detail features of construction and arrangement of the elements relatively to the. cabinet, in each of the two alternate forms thereof hereinafter described; the combined elements being well adapted to be contained in a cabinet and constitute a compact, self-contained and readily transportable machine or instrument.

The basic principle of the invention is exemplified in a device wherein sound-waves are reproduced from a record thereof by a discharging the sound-waves so produced into the interior of a resonance-chamber of the character recited, whereby they operate to sympathetically vibrate the soundingboard wall or walls thereof; while a further basic principle is the deflection modification and amplification of such sound-waves within the resonance-chamber, exemplified by the provision of outwardly-diverging partition walls interiorly disposed between the sound-C ing-board wall or walls of such-resonancechamber.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention in two of its best forms:.Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, wherein the interior of the cabinet is reached through a hinged closure in one of its side walls, and wherein the resonance box is placed over the open top of the cabinet, the

ack of the former constituting the top of the latter and not necessarily having any func- Patented Dec. 17, 1907.

valvemechanism governing the inlet to the contacting stylus vibrating a diaphragm and tion as a soundin -board. Fig. 2 is a section of the resonance- 0x, drawn on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1. 3 is'an elevation of the pivoted sound-conveying arm constructed to operate with the form of device shown in Fig. 1,. Figs. 4, 5 andfi are elevations in perspective of the elements comprising the sound-conveying arm of Fig. 3. Fi 7 is an elevation in perspective of another fbrm of the device, wherein the to of the cabinet is provided with-a hinged hd or door and the resonancebox mounted on the inner face of the door, in such manner that both the top and back .sides of the resonance-chamber may operate as soundmg-boards; and F' 8 is a horizontal sectional view thereof, t ough the censpective of the elements comprising the sound-conveying arm of Fig. 9. I y

' Referring now to said drawings A indicates an inclosing cabinet, with an o'utwardly openin Fig.1, but with the door A forming the ing door A in its side wall, in the form shown top covering or lid, in the form shown in Fig. 7; the cabinet, in either case, containing a sound-reproducing 'or talking-machine of any usual type, the drawings showing the gramophone type, indicated in Figs. 1 and 7 wherein a motor-containing box is indicated at m, the turn-table at 10, the record .at8,

and the sound-box mechanism, comprising a diaphra m and a stylus, at 5.

Soun waves produced by the diaphragm of the sound-box 5 are discharged through the sound-conveying tube 4, which is a tapering tube roceeding directly, and by its smaller end from the back of the sound-box 5 to the aperture '14 in the-base wall (Fig. 1) or of the adjacent side wall (Fig. 7) of the resonance-box B; and it is essentially a pivotally-mounted hollow arm to permit of the usual and re uired movement of the soundbox in its ra 'al traverse over the frecord.

If the hollow arm 4 is constructed with the usual joint, indicated by dotted lines at n in Fig. 1, then the arm4 need have but a swinging movement in a horizontal plane, otherwise it' must have also a limited movement vertically in a short are of a circle. Means to permit it to have both motions are shown in the drawings, Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, in which Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show the elements and Fig. 3 the same when assembled and theyare as follows :A bracket-bearing 30, with ears 31 to attach it to the superposed box, is provided interiorly with a narrow ledge 36 and a curved annular wall 37. The

upper end of the hollow arm 4 is. provided" with an enlarged head, shown in Fig. 5, having a curved exterior 34 adapted to register with the curved wall 37 of the ring, and between the two is interposed the ring 32 (Fig. 6); while to limit the vertical are movement of the member 34 in the member 37, the for-' mer is provided with two oppositely-disposed pms 35 entering holes 33 in thering member 32, which latter-rests on the ledge 37 of the member 30 and fills the space above it and isheld firmly in place whenthe parts are assembled and secured to the basewal1 of the resonance-box B, as shown in 3. A somewhat difierent form of means providing for these movements of thesound-conveying arm 4 is required by reason of the mounting of the' resonancegbox B on the inner face of the lid of the cabinet, as shown in-Fig. 7, and

end 26 of the hollow arm4. Upon said flange rests the lower end 27 of a three-way coup:

ling 24. A retaining ring 29 holds the coupling 24 in place on the flange of the arm 4, be-

ing secured by screws 29" entering holes 27.

these modified means are shown in Fig. 9, wherein the elements of the pivotal bearing are shownassembled. These. elements are:

an annular flange 28 slightly below the upper before described with reference to the pivotal bearingshown in Fig. 3,-when the machine is in operation; but also, when it is desired to throw the machine out of action and close down the lid of the cabinet, the arm can then be swung upwards at a right angle to the face of the resonance-box and then down ward, in a line therewith, resting in the recess 6 provided therefor and held supported therein by a hook 7 or other similar means.

The remaining and chiefelement of the new device, consisting of the resonance-box B and its adjunctive parts, I will now describe. In essentials it must provide a hollow chamber, preferably rectangular in planular outline and otherwise resembling.

the resonance-box of a guitar or violin, and have at least one of its sides operating as a sounding-board. It must have one or more sound-discharge openings. And it should have'vertical partition walls, which are relatlvely diverging walls. Such a box is shown 1n Fig. 1 in which the to '2 of the resonance box is a true soundingoard, shown. with a lid by a narrow strip 10 interposed between so to speak, from the inner face of the cabinet the .four edges of the base 9 and the cabinet lid. In both forms of resonance-box B there is provided an inlet port indicated at 14. In both the sound-waves im inge, so to against thetop soundingard 2-, at a t right angle in Fig. 1, and substantially so in Fig. 7, the sounding-board being thus set in sympathetic vibration.

' is not limited to the employment of either.

Entrance of sound-waves to the resonancechamber is governed by a valve 16 actuated by a lever-handle 17, and the partial opening or closing of this port has the effect to control the degree ofloudness or softness of tone and produces a perfect diminuendo or crescendo at the will of the operator and while the machine is in operation if desired to so operate it.

An important, indeed an essential feature, in the construction of the resonancechamber to produce the complete efiect desired is in the provision of the interior partition walls. Referring first to Fig. 1 as the simpler form, the pair of partition walls 12, 12, are united in a curve at 12 which is located adjacent to and inclosing the aperture 14, proceeding thence on gradually diverging lines which pass on either side of the aperture 3 in the sounding-board 2. ()ther curved wa'lls 12 are provided as shown in Fig. 1, as it is believed that such corners in the resonance-chamber should be eliminated; at least my experience with the machine so constructed has been more satisfactory. Such a partition is provided at 12 in the form shown in Fig. 7, but in that form of resonance-box, the sound-waves from the diaphragm enter the sound-chamber through an aperture 14 cut in one of its side walls, hence the partition walls 12, 12, are curved to form the sound-passage 12'leading directly to the aperture 14 which is governed by a valve 16 as in the other form of machine.

It is' to be understood that my invention particular external form of resonance box shown, nor to either particular form of pivotal mounting. of the hollow sound-conveying arm, nor to the employment in the cabinet, of a sound-reproducing machine of a graniophone type, employing a disk recor'd; but on the contrary, a sound-reproducing machine of the phonograph or any other type, may be substituted, care being taken to supply the appropriate form of pivotal bearing for the sound-conveying arm to adapt it to any particular form or type thereof selected.

Having thus described myinvention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A machine for reproducing sounds from a record thereof and modifying their tone and timbre, comprising an inclosing cabinet and the following interiorly contained instrumentalities in operative combination, namely, mechanism for reproducing sound- Waves from a sound-record, a resonance-box one 'wall of which is a sounding-board adaptfcdto be vibrated sympathetically by said sound-waves, and forming a resonancechamber which is substantially closed other than by sound-discharge openings, with connecting tubular means operatively mounted to convey said sound-waves from the reprogucer to the interior of said resonance-chamer.

2. A machine of the character recited, comprising a containing cabinet, and the following interiorly-contained elements in operative combination, namely: mechanism for reproducing sound-waves from a record thereof, a contiguous resonance chamber formed by a box one-exterior wall of which is a sounding-board, the interior of said box containing outwardlydiverging partition walls operatin primarily to form an amplifying passage or said sound-waves and secondarily to modify the tone thereof; with means for conducting the sound-waves from the sound-reproducing mechanism to said amplifying passage in the resonance-cham- 3. A machine of the character recited comprising the'following instrumentalities, in operative combination, namely a cabinet with interiorlycontained mechanism for repro-' ducing sound-waves from a sound-record, a contiguously mounted box providing a resonance-chamber the exterior wall of which is a sounding-board, a pivotally-mounted hollow sound-conveying arm leadin to an aperture in an oppositely-disposed wa l of said box by which it is mounted in the cabinet, said arm operating to convey sound-waves from the sound-reproducer to the interior of the resoname-chamber, with valvular means governing the delivery thereof to said chamber.

4. A-machine of the character recited comprising the following instrumentalities, in op erative combination, namely a machine for mechanically reproducing vibratory sound Waves from a sound-record, a box providing a resonance-chamber one wall of which is a soundingboard;and having interior diverg- 6. A machine of the character recited comprising a containing casing, and within it a .of sai resonance-box.

machine for mechanically reproducing-vi bratory sound-waves from a sound-recordfa superposed" resonance-box mounted on and forming the top of saidcasing', said box comprising-top and bottom connected walls, the former of which is a sounding-board, and the latter of which formathetop of said casing,

with a pivotally-mounited hollow sound-conveying arm leading the sound-waves from the sound-reproducer and discharging them throu h an aperture in the contiguous wall 7. In a machine of the character recited 7 comprising a cabinet with interiorly-contained mechanism for re roducing sound- Waves from a so1md-rec0r the combination therewith of super osed means operating as well to amplify t e tone and modify the timbre of the sound-waves so produced, said a vertically-disposed sound-conveylng arm ivotally mounted against an aperture in the ower and conti uous wall of said box, 0 'erating to convey t e sound-wavesfrom t e reproducer to said amplifying (passage within the resonancechamber an against the sounding-board wall thereof. A

8. In a machine of the character recited,

' .an inclosing cabinet, with a chamber containing mechanism for reproducing soundwaves from a record thereof, a superposed resonance-box formed by a pair of 0 pcsitely-disposed sides, the upper one of w lch is a soundin board, with connecting upright side-wal s one of which is apertured to provide sound-discharge openings, with valvular means governing the same,-a hollow tapering soun -conveying arm leading from the sound-reproducing mechanism and pivotally mounted at its end of largest diameter,

against an inlet aperture in the basal wall of said resonance box, with valvular means artition walls congoverning the entrance of such sound-waves therein.

9. A machine of the character recited comrising an inclosing cabinet with a hinged id, interiorly-contained mechanism for reproducing sound-waves from a sound-record, a resonance-box mounted on the inner face of said lid and consisting of a dpair of oppositely-disposed sounding-boar with connecting side walls, the exterior soundjngboard having a sound discharge opening and the other being secured to the face of the hinged lid, with an edge strip of material interposed between them; a tapering hollow sound conve%ing arm leading the soundwaves from t e reproducer and discharging them through an aperturein one of the connecting side walls of said resonance-box,

said arm having ivotal bearings permitting both vertical an lateral movements thereof relatively to the resonance box on which it is mounted;

-10. A machine of the character recited comprising an inclosin cabinet having a hinged lid, and interiorly contained means for mechanically reproducin sound-waves from a sound-record, the com ination therewith of a hollow sound-conveying arm with 7 5 pivotal bearings permitting both vertical andlateral movements thereof at its discharge end, and a supe' osed box mounted on the inner face of saidginged lid and constituting ,a'resonagice-chamber, withsound- I discharging apertures, and having interior diverging partition walls; said box comtwo oppositely-dis osed flat sides,

prising one 0 which is a soundingoard, with connecting side-walls one of which is apertured to operativel'y support the delivery end of said sound-conveying arm;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my sighature this 23rd day of May V A.D .19 07. Y

LUTHER/.1. HAILE. Witnesses: i

, A. M. BIDDLE, l C. DUNLAP. 

